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MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE PRESENTS
GOUNOD’S GLORIOUSLY TRAGIC
Romeo & Juliet
* * *
June 2-9, 2007
at the Detroit Opera House
DETROIT, Michigan, May 11, 2007…Michigan Opera Theatre brings its 36th Opera Season to a dramatic close with Charles Gounod’s passionate and powerful Romeo & Juliet, the opera with a timeless plot reflected in modern television, theater, film and literature. Demonstrating the forces of fate and the power of love, Romeo & Juliet portrays the world’s most famous “star cross’d lovers” in the dramatic production June 2-9, 2007.
Gounod’s Romeo & Juliet (Romeo et Juliette) premiered in Paris on April 27, 1867. Based on William Shakespeare’s familiar tragedy, the opera features a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré. The three act opera (originally five) will be presented in French, with English surtitle translations projected above the stage. Michigan Opera Theatre has presented Gounod’s Romeo & Juliet once previously, in 1990, over 17 years ago.
“Our production of Gounod’s Romeo & Juliet furthers Michigan Opera Theatre’s long-standing commitment to producing enduring operas. A classic tale of forbidden love, it features some of the most beautiful love duets of all time.” ~Dr. David DiChiera
Romeo & Juliet is an operatic tribute to the classic play, combining the traditional plot with beautiful love songs and passionate duets. It begins with Romeo and Juliet’s fateful meeting at the Capulet palace and the infamous balcony scene in which Romeo compares Juliet’s beauty to the rising sun in a rapturous aria (“Ah! Lève-toi, soleil”). From the balcony, Juliet answers as the lovers’ voices blend in an exquisite parting duet. Soon the two are wed in a solemn ceremony presided over by Frère Laurent and the tale reaches its climax in the tragic, violent death of Mercutio and Tybalt. Wounds are festered between the Capulets and Montagues as Romeo is exiled from Verona and Juliet is left to face her family’s scorn for her involvement with Romeo and the misfortune of her cousin’s death. In utter despair, she feigns death only to deceive the very one she loves. In tragic bliss, the two lovers, finally reunited in death, both plead a final prayer of forgiveness (“Seigneur, pardonnez-nous”).
Michigan Opera Theatre’s production of Romeo & Juliet features a large, international cast of opera stars, many making their company debut. The role of Romeo will be performed alternately between Mexican-American tenor making his company debut Arturo Chacón-Cruz (2, 6, 9) and Jonathan Boyd, who performed in Michigan Opera Theatre’s 2005 World Premiere of Margaret Garner (3, 8). Juliet will also be sung alternately by Russian-American soprano Dina Kuznetsova (2, 6, 9) and American emerging young artist Evelyn Pollock (3, 8). Both Kuznetsova and Pollock will be making their Michigan Opera Theatre debut.
The role of Mercutio will be performed by American baritone Kyle Pfortmiller, who performed last in MOT’s 2006 production of Cinderella, and the role of Frère Laurent and Le Duc will be performed by American bass Peter Volpe, his Michigan Opera Theatre debut. Returning to perform Capulet is noted leading man Stephen Lusmann, voice professor at the University of Michigan. Brandon Snook, MOT’s Barbara Gibson Young Artist Apprentice and voice student of Stephen Lusmann will perform the role of Benvolio. Romeo & Juliet will be directed by Bernard Uzan, and conducted by maestro Mark D. Flint, the artistic team who will bring David DiChiera’s Cyrano to life in October 2007.
TICKETS
Tickets for Michigan Opera Theatre’s production of Romeo & Juliet at the magnificent Detroit Opera House range from $28-$120, and are available at the Detroit Opera House ticket office (1526 Broadway, Detroit, 48226), by phone at (313) 237-SING (7464) and online at www.MichiganOpera.org. Tickets are also available at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at (248) 645-6666 or online at www.TicketMaster.com.
Charles Gounod’s
Romeo & Juliet
Saturday, June 2, 2007at7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 3, 2007at2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007at7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 8, 2007at7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 9, 2007at7:30 p.m.
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